September 2002

Incorporating more process reactions in the unit's P&I, engineers will be able to design better control systems

The technique has been thoroughly tested with simulations and actual control loops

The method provides flexibility in using any PID algorithm, process transfer function and test pattern

Soft-sensing techniques can be used to achieve realistic control models

Use these techniques to force transparency, build inter-company trust and win projects

Improved operational integrity minimizes plant upsets and challenges

Practical experience with computer-aided online systems shows how useful they can be

Reliability professionals are well aware that water in bearing lube oil is detrimental to long-term, reliable equipment operation. Similarly, there is agreement that solid contaminants,..

We in the industry know why gasoline prices fluctuate. It's because of the price of crude oil or demand for product or government adding more environmental costs or high taxes or refine..

IEC 61508, an international standard for functional safety, requires that any project manager establish criteria to assure competency of all individuals doing various safety life-cycle ..

As this issue goes to press, HP will be releasing its 2003 industry forecast. So what should the HPI expect to happen over the next 15 months? Well, the news is cooling if not at times ..

Optimal crude oil scheduling software application The Industry Solutions business of Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions has introduced a new Production Scheduler software applic..

Foster Wheeler to sell plant A Foster Wheeler Ltd. subsidiary is selling its interests in its Hudson Falls, New York, waste-to-energy plant. The Warren and Washington counties industrial ..

Oxidizers provide effective VOC destruction Designed to exceed all local, state and federal clean air regulations, Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers are said to destroy up to 99%+ of volat..

Air Products building hydrogen plant Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, is building a 40-million scfd hydrogen (H2) facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. The p..

Power plant gas detection MSA Instrument Division's "Gas Monitoring in the Power Generation Industry" bulletin is designed to help users identify toxic and combustible gas hazards in power ..

Global refining capacity and markets: short-term outlook. East of Suez markets will continue to be dominated by the excess capacity in Asia. The largest additions have come from India, ..

Whether it is bad luck or bad planning, the petrochemical industry has been beleaguered by shifting crises over the past five years. So says a recent analysis from SRI Consulting (http:..

A new report from the United States Energy Association (USEA) presents broad policy recommendations to enhance energy security. Titled, "National Energy Security Post 9/11," the analysi..

Seven individual ethylene unit turnarounds are scheduled for second-half 2002. These planned turnarounds will require 228 days of downtime, affecting approximately 8 billion lb/yr of et..

Propylene demand is projected to increase faster than supply, and if this trend continues, global supplies would become short and prices would increase. This situation potentially would..

Members of the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) who serve on the Clean Diesel Independent Review Panel (CDIRP) urge the panel to conduct a thorough, science-based re..

The causes and very existence of "global warming" are hotly debated issues within the HPI and the global community in general. A team of scientists funded by European Commission Researc..

Piping design I really enjoyed the article by J. M. Cummings, "Low technology approach to better machinery reliability" (April 2002, pp. 65 - 69). Mr. Cummings is obviously not from the..

Upcoming environmental regulations will require tighter control measures for FCC units. So, what are the best options?

Dick Hill, Contributing Editor       Comments? Write: editorial@HydrocarbonProcessing.com Automation end users h..

Application. Matrikon's OPC Data Manager (ODM) is a software application that transfers data from one OPC server to another. Use ODM when you need to share data between two or more cont..

Cooling water provides a perfect environment for microbiological (MB) organisms - a hospitable temperature range, a constant pH and a plentiful food supply from the chemical treatment. ..

Enterprise integration has abundant powerful technology capable of generating great value for the HPI, yet business issues, not technology, hamper its commercial success. The major impe..

Careful planning reduced costs and avoided having to shut down the plants